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Custom made shutters are a stylish way to dress the windows in your home. They look great and offer a high level of light and privacy control. Alongside looking beautiful and being practical, they also do a good job of insulating a home.

And, with rising energy prices, finding ways to reduce energy costs is on everyone’s mind. The good news is that when window shutters are closed, they can help to reduce heat loss by up to a whopping 50%! If you’re looking to reduce your heating a cooling costs, here are the best window shutters for insulation.

Blackout Shutters

One way to completely insulate your home is with blackout shutters. These are ideal in rooms that need a darker environment such as the bedroom or a cinema room. They work by adding a blackout blind that sits behind the shutter and gives the room an extra layer of insulation. Cold air and UV light effectively gets trapped, so it can’t get inside and impact the temperature of a room.

Full Height Shutters

Full height shutters are another top choice to insulate your home. They cover the entire window and offer incredible light, privacy and noise control. Open the louvres to let light in during the day and close them at night when you want to relax. Faux wood and timber shutters offer incredible thermal regulation, so your room will stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Tier on Tier Shutters

Tier on tier shutters are another great choice to help insulate your home. They generally have a mid-rail, with shutter panels at the top and bottom. All four panels can be opened and closed independently from each other, which gives you even more control over light and privacy. But, when you want to keep the heat or cool in, shut all the panels and your tier on tier shutters will do a good job of regulating the temperature in your property.

Solid Panel Shutters

Solid panel shutters offer a modern, classic aesthetic and are crafted from window height, solid panels. Because they don’t have louvres, you have to open each panel completely. This might not be right for everyone, as you do lose a little control over privacy. However, when all the panels are closed, they do an even better job than the louvre kind, at keeping your home warm or cool. So, investing in shutters will not only make your home look beautiful, they will help to lower your energy costs in the long run.

Do you run your own business? Then chances are you have an office space at home or in the city. Professional spaces like an office, needs to give the right impression and window coverings are a part of this.

Certain types of window blinds and shutters give a more relaxed feel, which might not be what you’re looking for. But, the good news is, roller blinds have many qualities and functionalities that make them ideal for an office environment. These include:

Excellent Temperature Control

Putting in 12-hour work days can mean eating, drinking and working at your desk at all times of the day. If the window next to your desk has sun streaming in at certain times, you need to control the temperature, or you won’t get much done. Roller blinds can be custom made in blockout or sunscreen fabrics to keep you cool and can be moved up and down easily when the sun changes position. They also provide a layer of insulation, helping to regulate the room temperature.

Good Security and Privacy

Intruders always look to access buildings that seem the easiest to get into. Quality roller blinds, made to measure, add a layer of security and privacy to any office building, hiding what’s inside. If you want privacy, but still a view, choose a translucent fabric which allows light to filter in, but keeps prying eyes out.

Professional Appearance

First impressions count! And alongside wanting functional benefits from your office blinds, how they look is important. Match your roller blinds to a colour in the office or your branding, to give a professional appearance. With the right office window blinds, guests will be impressed and employees will enjoy their working environment, staying productive.

Easy to Maintain and Affordable

Roller blinds are extremely easy to maintain. A light dust over or wipe down with a cloth occasionally will suffice. They’re one of the most affordable window coverings on the market and last for years and sometimes even decades, giving you a great return on your investment.

Protect Furniture from UV Rays

When the suns UV rays pour into an office, furniture and equipment can be susceptible to fading. Protect your chairs, carpets, sofas, desks and computers by having custom made roller blinds fitted. You can even opt for double roller blinds which include a sheer blind and blockout blind on the same window, giving you the best of both worlds.

The living room is a place to relax, catch up with family and entertain guests. It’s an important room in any home and the way it’s styled needs to reflect that. The decision needs to be taken with care and shouldn’t be rushed into.

Get it right and you’ll enjoy spending time in the space. Get it wrong and you’ll feel uncomfortable, every time you walk in the room. When choosing living room blinds, first decide what is important to you like the level of insulation, privacy and light control.

Next you need to think about style preferences. Let’s take a look at the different blinds available for living rooms and what they offer, so you can make a decision that’s right for you.

Roller Blinds

Roller blinds are an affordable, practical and stylish option for living room windows. They can be custom made to fit any window or door and come in unlimited style combinations.

Choose translucent rollers blinds to allow a little light into the room. Opt for a blackout or sunscreen fabric if you like a darker, cooler atmosphere and need protection from the suns UV rays.

Roman Blinds

Roman blinds give a classic, modern look to a living room. They are available in a range of styles including flat, for a contemporary feel, or looped/teardrop for a more traditional feel.

Blackout and sunscreen roman blinds, help to block the suns ray and stop the room from heating up too quickly. Ask for a thicker fabric if you live in a cooler, coastal area and want to insulate the room against the cold.

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds are practical, modern and give a simple, stylish look to any living room. They are easy to clean and maintain, because you can swop a single panel out if it gets dirty or damaged.

Vertical blinds are affordable and offer good privacy and light control. Choose a translucent fabric to allow natural light to filter inside or a blackout fabric, if you want your living room to be darker and cooler.

Panel Glide Blinds

Panel glide blinds are a stylish option for large windows and bi-fold doors. They can be made to your exact dimensions and come in a range of styles and colours to complement your current living room décor.

If you love to watch movies frequently, choose a blackout fabric to eliminate natural light. Choose a sunscreen or translucent fabric to let a little light in, without raising the room temperature.

Are you looking for new blinds for your home? Finding it difficult to choose between all the different window treatments on offer? Roman blinds are one of the many great options to shade your windows.

They come in a wide range of fabrics and styles, plus they offer excellent functionality. They were created during the Roman empire, over 2,000 years ago but still live on today, as one of the most popular types of window covering. If you’re still not sure if they’re right for you, here are seven advantages to choosing roman blinds.

1.Extremely Versatile

Roman blinds are a versatile window covering and can be used in a bedroom, living room or kitchen. Just select the right fabric and colour for your requirements and purpose. For example, choose a sunblock fabric for extra light control in a bedroom, or a simple white cotton fabric that allows light to filter through in a living area.

2.Multiple Design Options

Choose roman blinds in a range of different designs, colours, fabrics, trimmings and borders. Common roman blind options are flat, hobbled, pleated and relaxed. The flat style is great to show off a funky pattern and the hobbled variation has an elegant rippled effect, which is best suited to a plain fabric.

3.Energy Efficient

Roman blinds offer excellent temperature control, compared to other types of blinds. The most effective ones are insulated with thermal acrylic foam, that helps to keep your home temperature steady year round.

4.Easy to Operate

Choose corded or cordless roman shades, depending on your needs and budget. The motorised, cordless option, is extremely simple to use and is child and pet safe. You can operate your motorised roman blinds in a few clicks, without even leaving the sofa.

5.Suitable for Small Spaces

Roman blinds offer a neat, contemporary appearance and are great for covering small windows. They don’t take up too much space like bulky curtains and can be pulled up or down, without covering the window frame.

6.They Minimise Fading

The suns harsh rays will start to fade your interior furnishings such as chairs, carpets and walls, if the window isn’t protected. Roman blinds are an ideal option for windows, that can be easily adjusted, to reduce the chance of fading in the home.

7.Easily Customised

Choose your roman blinds in a variety of colours, textures, styles, shapes and materials. Customising your roman blinds allows you to make them as effective as possible for each room of the home.

The right roman blinds in the bedroom gives privacy, light control and offers a beautiful aesthetic. Contact the team at Heartwood Shutters for help choosing the right roman blinds for each room in your property.

Not every room has the benefit of huge windows to stream light through. If you have a small room, or a room with small windows, it may feel a little dark and dreary at times. The good news is, there are many simple DIY ways to lighten a dark room, without knocking down walls and building new windows.

A light and airy space not only looks great, but it’s beneficial for health and wellbeing. Natural light also helps to cut down on the electricity bills and reduces mold growth. Here are a few simple ways to lighten a dark room in your home.

Strategically Place Mirrors

Well placed mirrors in a dark room can be transformative. Place a large mirror directly in front of a window so it can reflect natural light all around. If you don’t have a large mirror, a cluster of small mirrors is the second best option.

Light Filtering Blinds

Light filtering roller blinds are practical and stylish. They are ideal to use in a dark room where you can pull them down for privacy, but still enjoy light filtering through for an airy atmosphere. Alongside roller blinds, different types of blinds can be made from light filtering fabrics at your request. Talk with your local Sydney blind and shutter company for more information.

Use a Light Colour Palette

Light walls, furniture and flooring is one of the best ways to lighten up a dark space. White and cream shades work well, or cool blues and greys. Stay away from deep, dark tones such as black, dark grey and dark browns.

Clean Windows Regularly

A simple, but effective way to lighten a dark room is to clean windows on both sides. Especially if your window faces a road, dirt, dust and engine grime can get stuck to the windows, seriously impairing the view and blocking natural light. Every few months get a pro window cleaner in to shine up those windows.

Cut Back Foliage Outside the Window

While looking out over trees, bushes and flowers is lovely, if pesky branches start to block the window, this reduces the amount of natural light into your home. Avoid planting large trees or bushes to the South of your home and put a trimming schedule in place to keep foliage in check.

The kitchen is the heart of any home. Family and friends get together to eat, drink and be merry. But, it can be one of the messiest rooms of the house, with the potential for food, grease and dirt to be sprayed around, while delicious meals are being cooked up.

Choosing the right window dressings is essential to give you light and privacy control. Plus, you’ll want something that looks great and is easy to keep clean. So what are the best window treatments for kitchens? Here’s what to consider.

Avoid Heavy Fabrics

Heavy fabrics in the kitchen will get splattered with food and retain cooking smells. Unless you want to be washing your kitchen window dressings all the time, it’s a good idea to avoid heavy curtains. Faux wood shutters or polyester roller blinds are great for kitchens, being moisture resistant and easy to wipe down.

Think About Moisture

Many kitchens have a window right above the sink. This can lead to water being sprayed onto window coverings that causes them to break down. It’s best to avoid real wood blinds, as these can warp in moist, humid conditions. Opt for practical materials such as PVC, polyester or faux wood.

How Easy to Clean

Even if you’re the tidiest cook, food can get splattered onto nearby objects un-knowingly. As time goes by, food gunk will build up on your kitchen blinds, making them look stained and old. By choosing an easy to clean material such as PVC or faux wood, you can easily vacuum and wipe down your blinds so they stay looking fresh.

Light and Privacy

Does your kitchen window look out over a busy street or walkway? This can mean prying eyes are constantly looking into your kitchen. The right custom kitchen blinds give you great privacy and light control, while still being practical and stylish. Some great options are faux wood shutters or roller blinds.

Window Storage Space

Window sills are handy places to store ornaments, books or plants. In the kitchen, you might want to keep spice pots or your recipe books here. If you’re lucky enough to have an ample window sill, choose a window treatment that doesn’t cover over this space.

Blinds or Shutters for a Kitchen Window?

Now you know what to consider when dressing a kitchen window. Whether you choose blinds or shutters is up to you. They are both fantastic options that look great, are affordable and do well in humid conditions if you pick the right material. Contact Heartwood Shutters to discuss custom made blinds and shutters for your kitchen.

Long lazy summer days are great when you’re in the garden with a cocktail! But, when the sun’s rays pour in through the window, it can get uncomfortable. This is why choosing the right window coverings for your home is essential.

Quality, customised blinds, do more than just look great, they provide much needed temperature and privacy control. If you’re wondering which blinds are the best to keep your home cool, let’s take a look.

Roller Blinds

Roller blinds are simple, affordable and do a great job at controlling the amount of light flowing into a room. You can even choose a double blind system that includes a sheer blind and a blackout blind, giving you even greater control.

The solid sheet of fabric that makes up roller blinds, helps to reduce heat and glare. Choose from a range of fabric types, colours, textures and chain control.

Roman Blinds

Roman blinds are an attractive and practical window covering. Made from a blackout or sunscreen fabric, they work well reducing the amount of sun exposure in a room.

This in turn, helps to reduce your home energy costs, removing the need to turn up the AC. They can be custom made to suit your requirements and can be installed quickly.

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds do a good job at reducing the summer heat in a home. They offer a clean, modern look for your living space or work space and are extremely easy to clean and maintain.

Choose from a range of fabrics, colours and patterns to suit your home décor tastes. Great for large window spaces and sliding doors, the panels can be angled to block or allow light inside.

Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds can be chosen in both aluminum and wood and the slats come in various sizes. Aluminum blinds are the best option to block the sun, as wood has been known to warp in excessive temperatures.

The slats can be tilted easily to allow light in or block the light and heat out. Choose from an array of colors and finishes to create the right effect for your home.

Panel Glide Blinds

Panel glide blinds do a great job of regulating the temperature in a house or office. They transfer less heat than vertical blinds, mainly because they have fewer blades to allow heat between and therefore keep sunlit rooms cooler.

Choose from blockout, sunscreen and a light filtering fabric, in a wide range of colours, designs and fabrics.

Do you need timber shutters or customised blinds for your Sydney home? Contact Heartwood Shutters for a free, no-obligation quote today.

Windows are like the eyes of your home. If your window blinds have seen better days, this can cause your home to look tired and un-inviting. Switching out old, broken blinds for new, smart ones, will instantly give your home the uplift it needs.

New blinds not only look beautiful, but they’ll give you better privacy, light control and be safer for the kids. If you’re still undecided if you need new blinds at all, read on to learn the six warning signs your window blinds need an upgrade.

1.Faded or Discoloured

Over time, window blinds are susceptible to discolouration and even staining. The sun’s rays are powerful and can cause dark coloured fabrics to fade and white to turn a yellow hue. This discolouration not only makes the blinds look old, but the material may stop doing its job blocking light. When you notice fading on your blinds, it’s time for an upgrade.

2.Bent or Broken Slats

If you notice bent or broken slats, it could time to invest in a new set of blinds. Broken window coverings are not going to give you full light, heat and privacy control. For an affordable replacement, consider purchasing roller blinds, aluminium plantation shutters or vertical blinds. For a natural, beautiful style, choose faux wooden shutters or timber shutters.

3.Hard to Lift Up

If the pulling mechanism has stopped working on your blinds, an upgrade is needed. Not being able to lift the blinds up or down, virtually renders them useless and they can even become a hazard. Roman blinds, roller blinds or faux wood shutters are great replacements being simple to maneuver.

4.Frayed or Broken Cords

Cords can fray or break over the years after a lot of use. When this happens, consider replacing your blinds for new ones. If you have pets or children in the home, opt for cordless blinds which eliminates the danger of a dangling cord.

5.Outdated Design

Having outdated window blinds isn’t an essential reason to upgrade. But, the windows are a focal point and can make your whole home look dreary if they don’t look good. Think about matching your new window blinds with a colour accent around the room. This brings a cohesive feel and gives the room a little style.

6.You Get New Windows

Have you recently fitted new windows in the home? Then this is the ideal time to update the window blinds. The old blinds may not even fit the new windows anyway! Have a think whether you’d like vertical or horizontal coverings, what colours and styles you like and whether you’d like them fitted inside or outside the window recess. Finally, talk with your local blind and shutter suppliers, who can help you choose the best option.

Shutters and blinds make a beautiful addition to any home. Both have their benefits, but which is best for you? This is a decision not to rush into. Window dressings have the ability to transform a room and give you great control over light, temperature and privacy.

And you’ll be looking at them every day, so you’ll want to like what you see! Let’s take a look at shutters Vs blinds, so you can choose the right ones for your home.

Differences Between Shutters and Blinds

The main differences between shutters and blinds are how they fit to the window. Blinds usually fix to the top of the window and shutters are fixed to the side of the window with a metal fitting. Shutters can be fitted inside or outside the home.

Shutters are often made from thicker, solid materials such as wood and have horizontal slats. Blinds are made in a huge variety of materials and styles and can feature vertical slats of different sizes, or one large panel.

Pros of Shutters

• Extremely durable
• Low maintenance
• Child safe with no cords needed
• Add value to your home
• Offer an attractive, natural style
• Excellent insulators
• Gives impressive light, ventilation and privacy control
• Can be chosen in wood or faux wood

Cons of Shutters

• More expensive than blinds
• Take up a little more space as they’re fitted outside the window recess
• Some windows may not suit the heavier style
• Take longer to install

Pros of Blinds

• Extremely affordable
• Offer a simple and modern aesthetic
• Great light and privacy control
• Can choose blackout fabrics for extra insulation and light control
• Choose a material to suit any environment eg; PVC blinds are great for bathrooms and kitchens where moisture is a problem
• A massive range of styles, colours, textures and designs to suit any home decor

Cons of Blinds

• A little less sturdy than shutters
• Harder to clean with the fabric absorbing smells and stains
• UV rays can start to discolour the fabric of some blinds
• Blinds often have cords which can be a hazard for kids
• May need to be replaced more frequently than shutters

Are Shutters or Blinds Best for You?

Shutters and blinds both do a great job of controlling light, privacy and temperature in the home. Shutters are a little sturdier and longer lasting, but blinds are affordable and suitable to be used in any room of the home. The one you choose depends on your budget and preferred home aesthetic.

Contact Heartwood Shutters for more information on timber shutters, outdoor plantation shutters, roman blinds, panel glide blinds, vertical blinds and roman blinds in Sydney.

Windows are a main entry point for irritating dust and allergens. If you suffer from allergies, this can cause heightened symptoms with itchy eyes, runny noses and sneezing.

Regular cleaning helps to keep dust mites at a minimum. But, if windows aren’t allergy proofed, contaminants can still build up. Take a look at these tips to allergy proof your windows and hopefully find some relief.

Use the Right Window Coverings

Vertical blinds are a great option for allergy sufferers if chosen in a vinyl or PVC material. This is because they are simple to clean and repel dust. Timber plantation shutters are another top choice, because they attract less dust than a soft fabric.

The final option is to install roller blinds. These also work well for allergy sufferers, being easy to wipe down and they generally don’t get as much dust settling on them.

Place Air Purifiers Close to Windows

If you suffer from allergies, make sure to place an air purifier near to a window. This traps allergens as they flow in from the outside and stops them entering the room. Invest in a quality purifier that has HEPA filtration, which traps up to 99.97% of all contaminants.

Clean Mold and Condensation from Window Sills

Mold and condensation starts to form around window sills, especially in the colder months. If left, mold spores can be a trigger for allergy sufferers, making symptoms a whole lot worse. Clean windows on a weekly basis to remove dust, mold and contaminants.

Check Caulking Around Windows

Caulking around windows can become compromised over time. Even tiny cracks can let in pollen, dust and mold spores which are not great for allergy sufferers. Take time to inspect your caulking and look for any signs of weakness. If you find any gaps, get an expert in to seal or replace the caulking.

Keep Windows Closed in Warm, Damp Weather

While you’ll want to let fresh air in occasionally, allergy sufferers are advised to keep windows shut during these times:

• Damp, rainy weather
• Warm, humid weather
• Early in the morning
• During the nighttime

The above times are when mold thrives and pollen is released. It’s generally safe for allergy sufferers to open windows from the mid-afternoon to early evening time. If you must open windows at other times, consider installing screen pollen filters to trap pollen before it gets inside.